Graphical User Interface and Methods of Use Thereof in a Multimedia Player

ABSTRACT

In a portable multimedia device, a method, apparatus, and system for providing user supplied configuration data are described. In one embodiment, a hierarchically ordered graphical user interface is provided. A first order, or home, interface provides a highest order of user selectable items each of which, when selected, results in an automatic transition to a lower order user interface associated with the selected item. In one of the described embodiments, the lower order interface includes other user selectable items associated with the previously selected item from the higher order user interface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/608,211, filed Dec. 7, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/282,861, filed Oct. 28, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.7,166,791, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/399,806, filed on Jul. 30,2002, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to multimedia devices. Morespecifically, the invention describes a graphical user interface for usein a multimedia asset player suitable for providing any number and kindof user supplied inputs.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Recent developments in consumer electronics have included theintroduction of portable multimedia asset player devices such as MP3players, minidisk players, and the like. For example, in the case of anMP3 player, a number of digitized audio files in the form of MP3 filesare stored in a storage medium included in or coupled to the player in afashion deemed most suitable to that user. In the case of MP3 files, forexample, a user of the MP3 player must be able to peruse and select aparticular file, or files, based upon such characteristics as musicgenre, author, album, or whatever grouping of MP3 files is present inthe MP3 player.

What is required is a user interface that provides for a user friendlyand efficient retrieval of stored multimedia asset files in a portablemultimedia asset player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein pertains to a user interface thatprovides for a user friendly and efficient retrieval of storedmultimedia asset files. In one embodiment, a method of assisting userinteraction with a multimedia asset player by way of a hierarchicallyordered user interface is described. A first order user interface havinga first list of user selectable items is displayed and a user selectionof one of the user selectable items is received. Based upon the userselection, automatically transitioning to and displaying a second orderuser interface.

In a portable media asset player, a method of selecting and playing amedia asset from a group of media assets stored therein is described. Afirst user interface is displayed on the portable media asset playerhaving a first number of items each of which is associated with aparticular grouping of the stored media assets. A selection of one ofthe first number of items is received and based upon the selected one ofthe first number of items, automatically transitioning to a second userinterface displayed on the portable media asset player that includes asecond number of items each of which is associated with the selecteditem.

In a portable, pocket-sized multimedia asset player, a method ofselecting and playing a multimedia asset from a group of multimediaassets stored therein is described. At a home interface, displaying aplaylist list item which points to a number of playlists stored in themultimedia asset player, wherein each playlist is a user customizablegroup of multimedia asset files, an artists item corresponding to all ofa number of artists each of which is associated with at least one of thestored multimedia asset, and a songs list item associated with each ofthe stored multimedia assets. Highlighting a desired one of the playlistlist item, the artists item, or the songs list item, selecting thehighlighted item, and automatically transitioning to a second interfacebased upon the selected item.

In a portable, pocket-sized multimedia asset player, a hierarchicallyordered graphical user interface accessible to a user suitable forreceiving user supplied inputs that facilitate selecting a multimediaasset stored therein. A first order interface having a first number ofuser selectable items, a user activated first selection tool suitablefor selecting at least one of the first number of user selectable items,a second order interface having a second number of user selectable itemsbased upon the selected at least one of the first number of userselectable items, and a user activated second selection tool suitablefor selecting at least one of the second number of user selectableitems, wherein when the first selection tool selects the at least one ofthe first number of user selectable items, the first order interfaceautomatically transitions to the second order interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary portable multimedia device 100 in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a hierarchically ordered menu corresponding to storedmedia assets in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a particular process for selectinga particular one of a group of stored media assets in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a state diagram of a user interface suitable for providinguser provided input for an exemplary MP3 player (along the lines of theplayer 100) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate various exemplary user interfaces consistent withselection and play of a media asset in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of theinvention. An example of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. While the invention will be described inconjunction with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that itis not intended to limit the invention to one preferred embodiment. Tothe contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, andequivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

With the rapid advancement in the ability to store data, multimediaasset players, such as MP3 players, can accommodate hundreds or eventhousands of such assets, such as MP3 files, making the task ofselecting, grouping, or retrieving a particular file, or files, adaunting task indeed. Therefore the invention described herein is wellsuited for providing a user friendly and efficient user interface forretrieving media assets for use in a portable multimedia asset player.In the described embodiment, the multimedia asset player takes the formof a pocket sized, portable MP3 player. Accordingly, a method andapparatus for providing user supplied inputs to the MP3 player aredescribed. Such user supplied inputs can include user supplied commandsdirected at retrieving specific files, such as digitized audio files inthe form of, for example, MP3 files.

In one embodiment, a hierarchically ordered graphical user interface isprovided that facilitates a user file selection procedure. In thisparticular embodiment, a first order (sometimes referred to as a homeinterface) provides a highest order of user selectable items each ofwhich, when selected, results in an automatic transition to a lowerorder user interface associated with the selected item. In one of thedescribed embodiments, the lower order interface includes other userselectable items associated with the previously selected item from thehigher order user interface. In this way, a user can automaticallytransition from a higher order interface to a lower order interface (andvice versa) by, in some cases, a direct transition. In other cases, theuser can transition from the higher order user interface to the lowerorder user interface (and vice versa) in a step wise fashion wherebyeach intervening interface is displayed having any number of userselectable input items each directly associated with the previouslyselected input item.

In a particular embodiment, the portable multimedia device is a pocketsized, multimedia device (personal digital assistants, personal MP3player/recorders, and the like) having a display screen arranged todisplay the various user interfaces and a corresponding user inputdevice. The user input device is typically a manually operated switch,button, wheels, or other such contrivances. Accordingly, the inventionwill now be described in terms a portable multimedia asset playercapable of storing a number of multimedia assets. For example, in thecase of the multimedia asset player being an MP3 player (such as theIPOD' player manufactured by the Apple Computer Inc. of Cupertino,Calif.), the multimedia assets can include MP3 files as well as anyother appropriately formatted data files.

Accordingly, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary portable multimedia device, ormedia player, 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Themedia player 100 includes a processor 102 that pertains to amicroprocessor or controller for controlling the overall operation ofthe media player 100. The media player 100 stores media data pertainingto media assets in a file system 104 and a cache 106. The file system104 is, typically, a storage disk or a plurality of disks. The filesystem 104 typically provides high capacity storage capability for themedia player 100. However, since the access time to the file system 104is relatively slow, the media player 100 can also include a cache 106.The cache 106 is, for example, Random-Access Memory (RAM) provided bysemiconductor memory. The relative access time to the cache 106 issubstantially shorter than for the file system 104. However, the cache106 does not have the large storage capacity of the file system 104.Further, the file system 104, when active, consumes more power than doesthe cache 106. The power consumption is particularly important when themedia player 100 is a portable media player that is powered by a battery(not shown). The media player 100 also includes a RAM 120 and aRead-Only Memory (ROM) 122. The ROM 122 can store programs, utilities orprocesses to be executed in a non-volatile manner. The RAM 120 providesvolatile data storage, such as for the cache 106.

The media player 100 also includes a user input device 108 that allows auser of the media player 100 to interact with the media player 100. Forexample, the user input device 108 can take a variety of forms, such asa button, keypad, dial, etc. Still further, the media player 100includes a display 110 (screen display) that can be controlled by theprocessor 102 to display information to the user. A data bus 311 canfacilitate data transfer between at least the file system 104, the cache106, the processor 102, and the CODEC 110. The media player 100 alsoincludes a bus interface 116 that couples to a data link 118. The datalink 118 allows the media player 100 to couple to a host computer.

In one embodiment, the media player 100 serves to store a plurality ofmedia assets (e.g., songs) in the file system 104. When a user desiresto have the media player play a particular media item, a list ofavailable media assets is displayed on the display 110. Then, using theuser input device 108, a user can select one of the available mediaassets. The processor 102, upon receiving a selection of a particularmedia item, supplies the media data (e.g., audio file) for theparticular media item to a coder/decoder (CODEC) 110. The CODEC 110 thenproduces analog output signals for a speaker 114. The speaker 114 can bea speaker internal to the media player 100 or external to the mediaplayer 100. For example, headphones or earphones that connect to themedia player 100 would be considered an external speaker.

For example, in a particular embodiment, the available media assets arearranged in a hierarchical manner based upon a selected number and typeof groupings appropriate to the available media assets. For example, inthe case where the media player 100 is an MP3 type media player, theavailable media assets take the form of MP3 files (each of whichcorresponds to a digitally encoded song or other audio rendition) storedat least in part in the file system 104. The available media assets (orin this case, songs) can be grouped in any manner deemed appropriate. Inone arrangement, the songs can be arranged hierarchically as a list ofmusic genres at a first level, a list of artists associated with eachgenre at a second level, a list of albums for each artist listed in thesecond level at a third level, while at a fourth level a list of songsfor each album listed in the third level, and so on.

Accordingly, FIG. 2 illustrates a hierarchically ordered menu 200 usedto navigate through those stored media assets of interest to a user inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. It should be noted thatin the described embodiment, the menu 200 is navigated by the userscrolling vertically within a particular level in order to peruse andeventually select a particular item located within that level. Onceselected, the menu 200 is automatically transitioned in a horizontalmanner to a lower order interface associated with the selected item. Forexample, at a first level, a list of music genres 202 (ROCK, JAZZ, HIPHOP) corresponding to the available MP3 files is displayed. In order toselect a particular music genre, a user scrolls “vertically down” thelist 202 (usually accompanied by a pointer such as an arrow or byhighlighting the adjacent item) until a desired input item is reached.Upon selecting a particular music genre (ROCK, for example), anautomatic horizontal traversal 203 to a lower order interface 204 thatincludes a display of a list of ROCK artists 204 a corresponding to theselected ROCK genre. Again after scrolling in a vertical direction inthe ROCK artists list 204 a, a user selects a particular one of thelisted ROCK artists included in the list 204 a resulting in anotherautomatic horizontal traversal 205 to a lower order interface 206denoting an album 206 a (from a list of albums 206, if appropriate)associated with the selected artist. This procedure is continued until aparticular song 208 a from a list of songs 208 (included in the selectedalbum) is selected. Once selected, the song 208 a is then ready for playas described at a play song interface 210 that can in some cases includeinformation related to the selected song 208 a.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart 300 illustrating a particular process 300 forselecting a particular one of a group of stored media assets inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, at 302, afirst order user interface is displayed having a list of first orderuser selectable items. In the example of FIG. 2, the first order userinterface is the list of genres 202 whereas the first order userselectable items correspond to the various genres listed. Next, at 304,at least one of the user selectable items are selected and subsequently,at 306, an automatic transition to and substantially simultaneousdisplay of a lower order user interface corresponding to the selecteditem. At 308, a determination is made whether or not there areadditional order user interfaces based upon the latest selected item.For example, from FIG. 2 above, selection of the Rock genre from thelist 202 initiates the automatic transition to the lower order userinterface and substantially simultaneous display of the list of ROCKartists 204 a. This process continues until a lowest order interface(i.e., the Play Song display 210) is reached at which point theselection process ends and the selected multimedia asset is played.

FIG. 4 shows a state diagram 400 of a user interface suitable forproviding user provided input for an exemplary MP3 player (along thelines of the player 100) in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. It should be noted that for sake of simplicity, only a singleselection path is shown corresponding to a single selection item (i.e.,Artists). Accordingly, a home interface 402 provides a list thatincludes a PLAYLIST item 404, an ARTISTS item 406, and a SONGS item 408each of which is selectable by a user. It should be noted that each itemis associated with a particular grouping of the multi-media assets(which in this example are MP3 files) stored at least in the file system104. For example, the PLAYLIST item 404 is associated with a number ofcustomizable playlists (i.e., a compendium of artists, songs, albums,etc. in any order and grouping as deemed appropriate) whereas theARTISTS item 406 is associated with particular artists whose songs arestored in the file system 104 and so on.

Therefore, once a user selects either the PLAYLIST item 404, the ARTISTSitem 406, or the SONGS item 408, an automatic transition to a lowerorder user interface occurs corresponding to the selected item. Forexample, if the user selects the ARTISTS item 406, an automatictransition 410 to the ARTISTS user interface 412 occurs thatconcurrently displays an ALL item 414 (associated with all artists) anda list of specific artists 416. It should be noted that, although notshown, if the user had selected a particular song from the list of songsassociated with the SONGS item 408, then the display would automaticallytransition directly to a now playing interface (not shown) indicatingthat the selected song is playing (or is prepared to be played) alongwith any other data or information deemed appropriate.

Once in the ARTISTS user interface 412, the user has the option ofselecting a particular artist by selecting a desired artist from thelist of specific artists 416 or selecting all artists by invoking theALL item 414. For example, if the user selects all artists by invokingthe ALL item 414, an automatic transition to a lower order ALBUMSinterface 418 occurs that concurrently displays an ALL item 420corresponding to all songs of all artists and a list of specific albumsfor all artists 422. If, for example, the user selected a specific albumfrom the list of specific albums 422, then an automatic transition to astill lower order interface ALL SONGS 424 occurs that displays a list ofall songs of the selected album 426. At this point, when the userselects a particular song, an automatic transition to a now playinginterface 428 occurs having a song information display 430 consistentwith the selected song.

If, on the other hand, had the user had invoked the ALL item 420 in theALBUMS interface 418, then songs interface 424 would display a list ofall songs 432 of all the artists. At this point, the user could select aparticular song from the list of all songs 432 resulting in an automatictransition to the now playing interface 428 having a song informationdisplay 430 consistent with the selected song.

A similar procedure can be followed in the case where instead ofinvoking the ALL item 414, the user had selected a particular artistfrom the list of artists 416. In this case, the act of selecting aparticular artist initiates an automatic transition to a selected artistinterface 436 that includes an ALL item 438 that points to all songs ofthe selected artist stored in the MP3 player and a list of all albums ofthe selected artist 440 that are stored in the MP3 player. Selecting oneof the albums from the list of albums 440 results in an automatictransition to the songs interface 424 that includes a list of all songsassociated with the selected album 442. On the other hand, invoking theALL item 438 results in an automatic transition to the songs interface424 having a list of all songs of the selected artist 444. Once in thesongs interface 424, the user is free to select any song listed for playat the now playing interface 428. For example, selecting one of thesongs listed in list of all songs of selected artist 444 or from thelist of all songs of selected album 442 results in an automatictransition to the now playing interface 428 simultaneously with thedisplay of song information displays 446 and 448, respectively.

It should be noted that the procedure described above is pathwisebi-directional in that the user can go in either direction along aselected path. It should be further noted, that in some embodiments, itis desirable to directly transition from the now playing interface 428to the home interface 402 (and vice-versa) without displaying any of theintervening interfaces.

FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate various exemplary user interfaces consistent withselection and play of a media asset in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention. One should note that the various user interfacesillustrated in FIGS. 5A-5F correspond to particular embodiments of theHOME interface 402, the ARTISTS interface 412, the ALBUMS interface 418,the SONGS interface 424, and the NOW PLAYING interface 428 describedabove. Accordingly, it should be further noted that each of theinterfaces described are incorporated into a representative media player500 having a display 502 and a user input device 504 that includes acentral button 506, a selector wheel 508, and selectors 510-516. It iswell to note that in this particular embodiment, the selectors 510-516are a back up one level 510, a rewind 512, a play/pause 514, and a fastforward 516. Accordingly, FIG. 5A shows a particular implementation ofthe HOME interface 402 displayed on the display 502. In order to selectthe ARTISTS item 406, the user rotates selector wheel 508 in either aclockwise or counterclockwise direction (or any appropriate combinationthereof) until the ARTISTS item 406 is rendered selectable (as noted bya semi-transparent highlight bar 518). Once the desired item ishighlighted, the user selects the highlighted item by invoking aselection protocol by, for example, pressing the central button 506.Once selected, the HOME interface 402 immediately transitions to theARTISTS interface 412 as shown in FIG. 5B. As with the selection in theHOME interface 402 of the ARTISTS item 406, a particular artist (or allartists) is selected by manipulating any of the user input devices 504(such as the selector wheel 508) in combination with an appropriateselection event which can include pressing the central button 506. Inthis way, the user is provided the capability of navigating the userinput menu in any manner that the user deems to be most convenient andefficient. It should be noted that a stack indicator bar 520 indicatesthe relative position of the selected item in relation to the stack ofitems associated with the particular selected group. Accordingly, FIGS.5C-5E show various exemplary user interfaces consistent with thedescribed embodiment of the invention.

While this invention has been described in terms of a preferredembodiment, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents thatfall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted thatthere are many alternative ways of implementing both the process andapparatus of the present invention. It is therefore intended that theinvention be interpreted as including all such alterations,permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scopeof the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pocket-sized device comprising: a displayscreen configured to display a graphical user interface comprising agroup of items, and an input device comprising a first surface of thepocket-sized device and a second surface of the pocket-sized device, thefirst surface surrounding the second surface, wherein the pocket-sizeddevice is configured to scroll through each item of the group of itemsin different directions in response to different rotational inputs froma user received by the input device on the first surface, and invoke aselection protocol in response to a press input from a user received bythe input device on the second surface.